What the Red River Gorge means to us
If you have been following our adventures around the world, you already know that we are avid outdoor lovers and that I make my family hike a lot! While we love exploring new places, our favorite place to explore close to home in Kentucky is the Red River Gorge. Many of our first dates were spent climbing and camping together in the RRG while attending medical school in Lexington, KY from 2005-2009. After spending 6 years out of state, when we moved back to Lexington with our 3 kids, we knew the RRG would become a second home for our family of 5 as well. We bought a cabin near Slade as our home base and now spend every spare minute hiking, climbing, and exploring in the RRG.
As I reacquainted myself with the RRG as a mother, I quickly encountered a lack of resources on hiking in the RRG with kids. While I was happy flying by the seat of my pants and following unmarked trails with my future husband 15 years ago, I felt a lot less comfortable doing that with 3 kids and 2 dogs. The sweeping views from the top of sheer cliff faces that I loved in my 20’s were a whole new experience with children! It has taken a lot of digging, using multiple resources, and a few minor failures to find the best trails for kids. My goal with this blog is to share what I have learned and make it easier for families to pick a trail, navigate the RRG, and make amazing memories here too. Over the next few months, we will be sharing our favorite things to do and information on all of our favorite trails. Please let us know in the comments if there are any additional posts you would like to see us write.
“A-Frames Under Canopy” is the perfect spot for a group/family glamping getaway in the Red River Gorge! When renting this new communal retreat you get all three A-frame cabins (Cabin A, Cabin B, and Cabin C) and a large central pavilion equipped with an outdoor kitchen, covered seating, an outdoor fireplace, two half baths and two showers. This is the perfect spot for a group of up to 12 to enjoy the quiet and privacy of separate sleeping cabins with a large communal space for meals and relaxation in the pristine wilderness of the Red River Gorge Geologic Area. Click here to book your adventure.
Why this is one of my favorite hikes in the RRG:
With a span of 79 feet, Gray’s Arch is the largest arch in the RRG Geologic Area. It is actually 1 foot longer than the Natural Bridge arch but doesn’t get as much credit. I love this hike for several reasons. First of all, I love how Gray’s arch is tucked into the forest and hidden until you are right beside it. Secondly, the rock amphitheater that you pass as you approach the arch is just as cool as the arch itself. Finally, the trail is long enough to feel like you got some exercise, but not as hard as the trails to the Natural Bridge. If you want to do the shortest possible hike, you can hike to Gray’s Arch as an out and back trail. I prefer to...